Separate open work permit privilege fee introduced

Policy effect

From February 21, 2015, a $100 fee for open-work-permit rights and privileges was payable by covered foreign nationals without an offer of employment under IRPR 204 or 205, persons described in 207(b) without an offer, and family members of the latter. It applied to initial work-permit and renewal applications. Exceptions covered people exempt from the work-permit processing fee other than paragraph 299(2)(i) participants; those participants were exempt from the new fee if an international agreement in force prohibited fees other than a participation fee. Permanent-residence applicants in the live-in caregiver class and family members included in that application were also exempt. The fee was remitted if the permit was refused, or the applicant withdrew the application and requested remission before issuance.

Conditions and exceptions

Validated condition or limit: From February 21, 2015, a $100 fee for open-work-permit rights and privileges was payable by covered foreign nationals without an offer of employment under IRPR 204 or 205, persons described in 207(b) without an offer, and family members of the latter.; Exceptions covered people exempt from the work-permit processing fee other than paragraph 299(2)(i) participants; those participants were exempt from the new fee if an international agreement in force prohibited fees other than a participation fee.; Permanent-residence applicants in the live-in caregiver class and family members included in that application were also exempt.; The fee was remitted if the permit was refused, or the applicant withdrew the application and requested remission before issuance.

Official source excerpt

Quoted verbatim from the official source below. Ellipses indicate omitted text.

303.2 (1) A fee of $100 is payable by a person for the rights and privileges conferred by means of a work permit if that person is (a) a foreign national who intends to perform work described in section 204 or 205 but does not have an offer of employment to perform that work; (b) a foreign national described in paragraph 207(b) who does not have an offer of employment; or (c) a family member of a foreign national referred to in paragraph (b). … 7. These Regulations come into force on February 21, 2015, but if they are registered after that day, they come into force on the day on which they are registered. … Exceptions (2) The following persons are not required to pay the fee referred to in subsection (1): (a) a person — other than a person referred to in paragraph 299(2)(i) — who under subsection 299(2) is not required to pay a fee for processing an application for a work permit; (b) a person referred to in paragraph 299(2)(i) who intends to perform work under an international agreement between Canada and one or more countries, if the agreement (i) prohibits the payment of a fee other than a participation fee, and (ii) is in force at the time that the person makes an application for a work permit or for renewal of the work permit; and (c) a foreign national who has made an application for permanent residence as a member of the live-in caregiver class and the family members included in that application. … Remission (3) The fee referred to in subsection (1) is remitted, and must be repaid by the Minister to the person who paid it, if (a) the work permit is refused; or (b) the foreign national withdraws their application and requests a remission before the work permit is issued.

Review method

Gemini 3.5 Flash-Lite extraction with independent Gemini 3.8 Flash verification

Other Canada changes operative in 2015

• 2015-01-01Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System
• 2015-01-28Immigrant Investor Venture Capital economic immigration class established
• 2015-02-21Employer compliance fee and direct job-offer submission introduced for LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permits
• 2015-05-25Investor-pilot intake switched from random selection to first complete applications
• 2015-06-10Prohibition of Non-Physically Present (Proxy, Telephone, Internet) Marriages and Raising Minimum Spousal Age
• 2015-06-10Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2015-138)
• 2015-06-11Order Fixing June 11, 2015 as the Day on which Certain Provisions of the Act Come into Force
• 2015-06-11Social insurance number collection and sharing authorised for citizenship eligibility verification
• 2015-08-01Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2015-77)
• 2015-12-01Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Administrative Monetary Penalties and Ineligibility System for Employers)
• 2015-12-19Ebola-related visa-processing ministerial instructions repealed